Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Tanker Rollover Causes Major Hazmat Incident on 128 Overnight

Reports say "river of gasoline" on Route 128 Monday night; Tuesday commute affected.

 

Tuesday, 7:45 a.m.

All travel lanes and ramps to Route 128 North and South in Woburn are open, announced the Mass Department of Transportation.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While all four lanes of Route 128 North and South are now open to traffic, the on-and-off ramps of Washington Street remain closed this morning after last night's major hazmat incident.

Woburn Fire was forced to strike four alarms for the incident, the first time since 2002 (the Bond Shoe fire on May 20, 2002).

According to officials, a tanker truck carrying 10,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over on Route 128 South after colliding with a passenger car. The cause and circumstances of the original accident is still under investigation.

The driver was taken to Mass General Hospital, and a second person was also taken to the hospital, according to reports.

The tanker began leaking from several spots, causing a river of gasoline on Route 128.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency set up a shelter for occupants of the Hampton Inn, which was evacuated during the hazmat clean-up.

Kat Powers told media this morning that the American Red Cross prepared breakfast for about 70 people displaced from the hotel.

For up-to-the minute updates on this story and others, follow Woburn Patch on Facebook and Twitter, or sign-up for our e-mail newsletter.

 

Monday, 11:30 p.m.

Stoneham Fire's Engine 3 was called to Normac Road, according to reports, to assist Burlington's Engine 2 with gasoline that had leaked to the area from a storm drain.

A resident on Twitter noted that she lives near the mall area and can smell gasoline at her home. 

 

Monday, 11:15 p.m. 

According to the Mass Department of Transportation, all Route 128 traffic is being diverted. Northbound traffic is being detoured on Route 38 (Main Street, Woburn) and southbound vehicles are being put onto Route 93. 

Officials expect 128 to remain closed until at least 7 a.m. 

The MBTA Reading to Boston commuter rail line will be closed during the spill, reports the DOT. 

 

Monday, 11 p.m. 

Fire officials on scene have requested more personnel to aid the city in responding to 911 emergency calls while many fire companies are on scene at Route 128 and the Woburn Mall staging area. 

Reports state that hazmat teams are blanketing Route 128 with foam, in an attempt to clean up the gasoline which is reportedly leaking from several spots on the tanker. There may be 8,000 to 10,000 gallons leaking from the truck. 

The road could be closed for up to eight hours, if not more, according to reports. 

 

Monday, 10:45 p.m. 

Mass State Police report that all traffic is being diverted off of Route 128 at this time, and being re-routed onto Route 93. 

"Citizens should avoid this area due to the hazard of the tanker leaking and the congestion from the closed roads," said an MSP spokesman. 

Preliminary investigation from the MSP finds that the gasoline tanker was involved in an accident with a passenger car. The tanker's driver was taken to Mass General Hospital with unknown injuries. 

Several fire companies are staging a command center at the Woburn Mall for the haz-mat incident on Route 128. 

According to reports, Woburn Fire's Engine 3, Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 1, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, Special Hazards H-1 and Auxiliary Rescue 8 are on scene, along with Massport and Hanscom foam units, Winchester Engine 2, and Reading Fire, Stoneham Fire, Burlington Fire, Arlington Fire and Medford fire companies.  

Reports state that the truck driver told authorities that he was carrying 10,000 gallons of fuel when the trailer unit rolled over shortly before 10 p.m.

Police are unsure of how long the highway will be closed and whether the haz-mat incident will affect the Tuesday morning commute.

 

Monday, 10:15 p.m.

has struck a third alarm for the haz-mat incident on 128 South. Both sides of the highway are shut down, according to reports. 

 

Monday, 10:10 p.m.

WOBURN—Route 128 South was closed at 10 p.m. Monday night after a tanker truck rolled over, unleashing a river of gasoline. 

Woburn Fire responded to the scene, along with Massport's foam clean-up unit.  A Hanscom Air Force base unit also responded.

According to reports, the tanker released 8,000 gallons of fuel onto the highway at Exit 36 near the Route 93 cloverleaf and the Woburn Mall. Several cars are involved. 

This is a Tier 3 haz-mat incident. 

Woburn Fire struck a second alarm for manpower to the highway.  

Reports state the Hampton Inn and Joe's American Bar & Grill were evacuated, due to the gas leaking on the off-ramp.

Woburn Patch will have more information when available.  


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.